Improved faucet-coupling assembly for a washing machine

ABSTRACT

An improved coupling assembly for connecting a washing machine to a water faucet has a handle member protruding from its body portion that serves as a spout for dispensing water from the assembly. A slidable member disposed between the handle member and the body portion is adapted to be manually pushed from a first to a second position which action opens a shutoff valve to allow the water to be dispensed through the handle member. The slidable member is linked to a quick-release connector that fastens the assembly to the faucet so that manipulation of the connector to remove the assembly from the faucet slides the slidable member toward its second position and opens the valve, thereby bleeding off water pressure from the assembly and preventing hot water from the assembly from spurting from the connector.

rezosllty [54] FAUCET-COUPLING 576,068 766,61 1 3,064,678. 1.02% a ets??? e;

General Electric Company Sept. 19, NM

US. Cl ..l37/583, 137/562, 251/289 lull. Cl. ..B05b U22, F161: 13/00,E03]: 7/07 Field of Search ..25l/148, 145, 149.9, 339, 303, 251/156;137/562, 583; 222/509, 47], 475, 470,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1897 O'Lally ..251/156 8/1904Ganon [4 1 Jan. 18,1972

3,306,319 2/1967 Kendt et al. 1 37/562 Primary ExaminerM. Cary NelsonAssistant Examiner-R. B. Rothman AtlomeyGeorge C. Atwell, Hany F.Manbeck, Jr., Frank L. Neuhauser, Oscar B. Waddell and Joseph B. Forman[5 7] ABSTRACT An improved coupling assembly for connecting a washingmachine to a water faucet has a handle member protruding from its bodyportion that serves as a spout for dispensing water from the assembly. Aslidable member disposed between the handle member and the 'body portionis adapted to be manually pushed from a first to :a second positionwhich action opens a shutofi valve to allow the water to be dispensedthrough the handle member. The slidable member is linked to aquick-release connector that fastens the assembly to thefaucet so thatmanipulation of the connector to remove the assembly from the faucetslides the slidable member toward its second position and opens thevalve, thereby bleeding off water pressure from the assembly andpreventing hot water from the assembly from spurting from the connector.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures I/i/l i/W PAIENTEU AN BR 3,635,243

' SHEET 2 0F 2 F I 7 mwzmoa BERNARD r. BREzosvd" ms ATTORNEY IMPROVEDFAUCET-COUPLING ASSEMBLY FOR A WASHING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The aforementioned copending application of Guth presents aninvention pertaining to a coupling assembly for removably connectinga'washing machine to a faucet. Guths coupling assembly includes a bodyportion having a lever-acfrom the faucet. A hollow handle memberprotrudes from the body portion of the assembly and is disposed incommunication with the watertakeoff outlet and serves as a spout for thedispensed water. In Guths assembly, the handle member is slidablymounted on the body portion and is adapted to open the valve at thewater-takeoff outlet. This is accomplished by manually sliding thehandle member a short distance relative to the body portion. Provisionis made for linking the handle member to the lever of the couplingmechanism so that manipulation of the lever, in disconnecting theassembly from the faucet will automatically slide the handle member andopen the valve to relieve internal water pressure within the bodyportion.

The present invention relates to a coupling assembly of this generaltype, that is, a coupling assembly wherein the same valve means is usedboth for dispensing water and for automatically relieving internalpressure when the assembly is disconnected from the faucet. It providesan improved assembly wherein the handle is fixed and has anindependently slidable means thereon to actuate a shutoff valve withinthe assembly. This has constructional and appearance advantages and'alsoprovides easy valve actuation since the user may grasp the handle as astationary base in moving the slidable means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improved couplingassembly that supports the outer ends of inlet and discharge hoses froma washing machine beneath the spout end of a kitchen faucet, with theinlet hose in communication with the faucet and the discharge hose incommunication with a passageway through the assembly that directs thedischarge fluid from the hose downwardly toward the drain opening of asink therebelow. The coupling assembly of this invention comprises abody portion defining a water passageway having an inlet end coupled bymeans of a quick-release connector to a water faucet spout, and anoutlet in communication with a water delivery hose leading to a washingmachine. A secondary opening which may be described as a water-takeoffoutlet is provided along the water passageway and has valve meanstherewith that acts normally to close off the water-takeoff outlet andprevent water from flowing therethrough.

The valve means includes a valve seat circumjacent the water-takeoffoutlet that cooperates with a movable valve member. The valve member hasan elongated stem extending centrally through the outlet and across thepath of movement of a manually operable sliding member. The slidingmember is preferably mounted between the body portion and asubstantially large stationary handle member protruding integrally fromthe body portion. Manipulation of the sliding member from a first to asecond position serves to push against the stem of the valve member andunseat it and thereby allow water in the passageway to flow through thewater-takeoff outlet of the body portion. The handle member of theassembly is substantially hollow, having a central bore therethroughthat is in liquid receiving communication with the water-takeoff outlet.The end of the handle member disposed away from the inlet end of theassembly is open and serves as a discharge port for dispensing waterselectively transmitted outwardly through the water-takeoff outlet andthence downwardly through the central bore of the handle member.

A connecting means removably fastens the assembly to a faucet and is aquick release mechanism having a manually depressable lever forfacilitating its operation. In one embodiment of the present inventionthe sliding member for manually opening the valve means to dispensewater from the assembly is linked to the connector mechanisms leverwhereby move ment of the lever is translated through the sliding memberto the valve means. Thus, the lever may serve the dual purpose ofdisconnecting the assembly from the faucet, at the same time, relievingliquid pressure within the coupling assembly to obviate the possibilityof hot water erupting from the inlet end of the assembly when it isdisconnected from the faucet.

The manually operable means for unseating the valve member to dispensewater from the coupling assembly may be a sliding member that includesboth a ledge portion adjacent the assemblys discharge port and a.portion that is located some distance from the discharge port and isshaped to facilitate manual operation. The latter portion may compriseone or more lateral projections or ta bs which extend beyond the outerperiphery of the handle portion. This enables a light lifting force tobe applied thereto by the finger of the operator whereby water isdispersed without subjecting the hand of the operator to the water flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. l is an elevational view, substantially cut away to show details,of the improved coupling assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing certaincomponents of the coupling assembly repositioned in accordance with theoperation of the assembly;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of one preferred form of a slidablemeans utilized in the coupling assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partially cut away to show details, of amodified form and alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken as though looking downwardly on the assemblyshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 4 but showing certaincomponents of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 repositioned as theywould appear during the connection or disconnection operation;

FIG. 7 is a scaled-down right side elevational view of the couplingassembly shown in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 8 is a perspective fragmentary view of a slidable means utilized inthe alternative embodiment of the invention in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. 1 and 2 there isillustrated a coupling assembly 10 for connecting a washing machine tothe outlet end of a faucet l 1. The coupling assembly 10 has a bodyportion 12 defining a water passageway 13 and an effluent dischargepassageway 14. The body portion 12 is provided with connecting means 15for coupling it to the faucet 11 whereby the inlet end of the waterpassageway 13 is in liquid-receiving relationship with the faucet l 1.The outlet end of the water passageway 13 has a hose 16 leadingtherefrom whereby water from the passageway 13 may be transmitted to awashing machine.

A washing machine effluent discharge hose 17 is coupled to the bodyportion 12 to deliver effluent from the dishwashing machine to thepassageway 14. The passageway 14 terminates in a discharge outlet 18that directs the effluent toward a sink drain that would normally bedisposed beneath the coupling assembly 10. A secondary or water-takeoffoutlet 19 leads off laterally from the water passageway 13 and has avalve member 20 disposed therein. The valve member 20 has an elongatedbody portion or rodlike stem 21 with a buttonlike head portion 22 at oneend thereof. The valve member is preferably provided with an elastomericsealing member 23 carried inwardly adjacent the head portion 22 forsealing against an annular valve seat 24'circumjacent the watertakeofioutlet 19. It will be noted that the valve member 20 is fitted looselyin its installed position and is normally held in the closed position,as shown in FIG. 1, by means of water pressure within the passageway 13exerted against the head portion 22 and the sealing member 23.

The stem 21 of the valve member 20 extends laterally from the bodyportion 12 into a hollow area discharge passageway or dispensing channel25 provided through a substantially large stationary handle portion 26that protrudes laterally from the body portion 12. The channel 25, atits upper end as shown in FIG. 1, communicates with the water-takeoffoutlet 19 to receive dispensed water therefrom. At its end most distantfrom the faucet the channel 25 through the handle portion 26 terminatesin a discharge port 30 disposed such that water dispensed therefrom willpass downwardly toward the sink therebelow or into a utensil properlypositioned thereunder.

The valve member 20 is arranged to be unseated by a tilting actionapplied thereto when a slidable member 31 is manually moved relative tothe handle portion 26. The sliding member 31 is illustrated separatelyin FIG. 3, with portions thereof cut away for the purpose of clarity ofpresentation. The sliding member 31 has spaced apart side portions 32,only one of which is shown in FIG. 3. The side portion 32 not shown inFIG. 3 is formed with a configuration that is a mirror image of the sideportion 32 shown. A transversely disposed ledge portion 33 interconnectsthe spaced-apart side portions 32 near the lower end of the slidingmember 31. Disposed between the side portions 32 is a semiflexibleintermediate portion 34 having identical vertically oriented spacedapart parallel leg portions 35. The intermediate portions 34 areinterconnected at their upper ends by a shoulder portion 36, and thelower ends of the legs 34 have respective laterally extending stubportions 37 which join the intermediate portion 34 integrally to therespective side portions 32.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sliding member 31, in its installedposition on the handle portion 26, is disposed on the inward side of thehandle portion 26, toward the body portion 12, and has its intermediateportion 34 positioned within the discharge channel 25. The side portions32 of the sliding member 31 are respectively disposed laterally on theside surfaces of the handle portion 26. The side portions 32 each haveinside surfaces 32a and 32b that slidably contact the outer surface ofthe handle portion 26 during operation of the sliding member 31. Alaterally projecting finger tab portion 38 is provided on each of theside portions 32 (FIG. 3) to facilitate manual movement of the slidingmember 31 relative to the handle portion 26. The disposition of the tabportions 38 relative to the handle portion 26 and the body portion 12 ofthe assembly may be more clearly understood by examination of FIG. 7,these tab portions being also included in the embodiment of theinvention to which FIG. 7 pertains.

The operation of the sliding member 31 on the handle portion 26 may bebest understood by a comparison of FIG. 1 with FIG. 2. When the couplingassembly 10 is in its installed operative position on the faucet 11 andthe faucet valve (not shown) has been opened to permit water to flowfrom the fauv Get 11 and into the passageway 13, water may beselectively dispensed outwardly through the channel 25 of the handleportion 26 typically by placing the thumb and forefinger under therespective tabs 38 (FIG. 7) to thereby lift the sliding member 31vertically upwardly relative to the handle portion 26. It will be notedthat a ledge portion 40 integral to the handle portion 26 protrudesrearwardly therefrom toward the body portion 12. A biasing means in theform of a compressible coiled spring 41 is carried between the ledgeportion 40 and the transversely disposed sliding member ledge portion 33and serves the purpose of maintaining the sliding member 31 in itsnormal first portion as shown in F IG. 1.

When the sliding member 31 is manually slid upwardly to its secondposition as shown in FIG. 2, the shoulder 36 of the sliding member 31moves upwardly against the valve stem 21 of the valve member 20. Thevalve member 20 is thereby tilted and unseated. Water within thepassageway 13 will then flow past the valve seat 24 through thewater-takeoff outlet 19 and then downwardly through the channel 25 andout from the dispensing port 30. When the operator's hand is removedfrom the sliding member 31, it is automatically retracted to its firstposition by expansion of the spring 41. The valve member 20 thenresponds to the pressure of the water within the passageway 13 and isreseated to its closed position.

It should be noted that the shoulder 36 of the sliding member 37 extendsrearwardly within the channel 25 (FIG. 1)

and overhangs a ledge 42 within the handle portion member 26. Also, arelatively small shoulder or ridge 43 is provided on the inside surfaceof each side portion 32 of the sliding member 31 (FIG. 3) adjacent toeach tab 38. The ridges 43 and the shoulder 36 serve to prevent thesliding member 31, by engagement over ledge portions formed in thehandle portion 26, from dropping downwardly outwardly out of itsinstalled position in the handle portion 26.

Disconnection of the assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is accomplishedby manipulation of a lever 45 that operates the connector 15(constructed in accordance with well-known criteria). The outer end 46of the lever 45 is manually depressed downwardly from the position shownin FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2. The upper end of the bodyportion 12 has upper and lower integral finger portions 47 definingtherebeiween a pocket into which leg portions 48 extend. The lever 45,which is a U-shaped member (such as shown in FIG. 5), has an inwardlydirected projection 49 intermediate the length of each leg 48 thereofthat extends into a groove 50 provided therefor in the sidewall of anouter sleeve or collarlike member 51 of the connection 15. Manuallyapplying a force downwardly against the outer end 46 of the lever 45pivots the lever 45 on a horizontal axis at the point of engagement ofthe legs 48 between the rigid fingerlike portions 47 of the body portion12. The downward pivotal movement of the lever 45 is thus translated tothe collarlike member 51 at the point of engagement of the projections49 with the grooves 50. This action releases a plurality of smallspherical balls (not shown) carried in circumferentially spaced apartopenings through the collarlike member 52 whereby the connector 15 isreleased from the faucet 11.

FIGS. 5 through 8 of the accompanying drawing illustrate an alternativeembodiment of the present invention which is a modified form of theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. The numeral designations for thevarious parts of the alternative embodiment described hereafter are thesame as utilized in reference to the first-described embodiment wheresuch elements are similar or identical in both structures. Therefore, itwill be seen with reference to FIG. 4 that the alternative embodiment ofthe coupling assembly of the present invention incorporates thestructural elements heretofore described with reference to FIG. 1. Themajor modification lies in linkage structure provided in the alternativeembodiment as shown in FIG. 4 whereby the sliding member 31 is linked tobe actuated by manipulation of the lever 45 when the coupling assemblyis disconnected from the faucet.

It will be noted in FIG. 4 that only the lower body portion projections47 are provided beneath the leg 48 of the lever 45, and that the upperprojections 47, shown in the first described embodiment in FIG. 1, arenot present in the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4. Instead, an opening56 through the upper end of the body portion 12 is provided tofacilitate the extension therethrough of rigid extension portions 57 ofthe sliding member 31. The extension portions 57, as shown in FIG. 8,are respectively integral to the side portions 32 of the sliding member31 and each projects upwardly therefrom to the level of the opening 56.Each extension portion 57 has a rearward projected portion 58 thatreaches through the opening 56 to a point above the extreme end of theleg 48 of the lever 45.

Reference to FIG. 5 shows that each side portion 32 of the slidingmember 31 is provided with the rigid extension portion 57 that has arearward projection 58 overhanging the extreme end of the lever leg 43.When the lever 45 is manually pressed downwardly as in FIG. 6 todisconnect the coupling 10 from the faucet 111, not only is thecollarlike portion 51 of the connector caused to move downwardly, butthe sliding member 31 is, by the same levering action, slid upwardlyrelative to the handle member 26. The inward projections 53 of thesliding member 31 serve initially as a fulcrum whereby the outer collarportion Ell of the connector I5 is moved downwardly by the lever action.Near the end of the levers downward stroke, a point on the under surfaceof each leg 48, near the outer end thereof, contacts the end of arespective body portion projection 47. The extreme outer ends of thelegs 48 are thereby pivoted upwardly. The upward force thus applied tothe sliding member inward projections 53 results in the sliding member31 being slid upwardly relative to the handle portion 26 so that thevalve member is unseated to relieve water pressure built up in thepassageway 13. The disposition of the various movable parts of thecoupling assembly, as they would appear at the culmination of thedisconnection operation, but prior to release of manual pressure fromthe end 46 to the lever 45, is illustrated in FIG. 6.

Comparing FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, it will be seen that both the first and thealternative embodiments of the coupling assembly heretofore describedhave means therewith to permit dispensing of water from the assemblywithout requiring direct contact to the assembly by the hand of theoperator. The rim of a fillable utensil such as a drinking glass or asauce pan may be brought to bear against the under surface of the ledge33 of the sliding member 31 whereby upward pressure of the utensilagainst the ledge 33 will slide the sliding member 31 upwardly. Suchmovement of the sliding member 311 acts to unseat the valve member 20 sothat water from the passageway 13 is dispensed outwardly through thedispensing port and directly into the utensil positioned therebelow.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that what has beenheretofore described is considered to be the presently preferredembodiments of this invention and that changes may be made in thedisclosed apparatus without actually departing from the true spirit andscope of this invention.

What I believe is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. A coupling assembly to connect a washing machine to a water faucetoutlet end comprising:

a. a body portion defining a liquid passageway therein,

b. said passageway having an inlet end, an outlet end for transmittingliquid toward the washing machine, and a liquid takeoff outlet at apoint between said inlet and said outlet end,

0. manually releasable means for connecting said inlet end inliquid-receiving relationship to the faucet outlet end whereby theassembly projects downwardly therefrom,

d. normally closed valve means for opening and closing said takeofioutlet,

e. a handle portion protruding from said body portion to facilitatemanipulation and connection of the assembly to the faucet,

f. manually operable means being disposed generally between said bodyportion and said handle portion and adapted to be movable between afirst and a second position relative to said handle portion,

g. means urging said manually operable means normally away from saidfaucet outlet end to said first position,

h. said manually operable means being adapted to open said valve meanswhen moved toward] said faucet outlet end to said second position,

i. a discharge port on the exterior of said assembly in liquid flowcommunication with said liquid takeoff outlet for dispensing the flow ofliquid generally downward from the assembly, and j. said manua lyoperable means being a slidable member and having at least one sideportion thereof disposed away from said discharge port to therebyfacilitate manual operation of said slidable member.

2. The invention of claim 11 wherein said manually releasable meansincludes an operating lever, and said slidable member has a portionthereof extending into the path movement of said operating lever.

3. A coupling assembly to connect a washing machine to a water faucetoutlet end, comprising:

a. a body portion defining a liquid passageway therein,

b. said passageway having an inlet end, an outlet end for transmittingliquid toward said washing machine, and a liquid takeoff outlet at apoint between said inlet end and said outlet end,

c. manually releasable means for connecting said inlet end in liquidreceiving relationship to the faucet outlet end whereby the assemblyprojects downwardly therefrom,

d. normally closed valve means opening and closing said takeoff outlet,

e. a handle portion protruding from said body portion to facilitatemanipulation and connection of the assembly to the faucet,

. manually operable means being disposed generally between said bodyportion and said handle portion and adapted to be movable between a.first and a second position relative to said handle portion,

g. means urging said slidable means normally away from said faucetoutlet and to said first position,

. said manually operable means being adapted to open said valve meanswhen moved toward said faucet outlet end to said second position,

i. a discharge port on the exterior of said assembly in liquid flowcommunication with said liquid takeoff outlet for dispensing a flow ofliquid generally downward from the assembly, and

j. linkage between said manually releasable means and said valve meanswhereby operation of said manually releasable means opens the valvemeans.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said linkage includes said manuallyoperable means.

1. A coupling assembly to connect a washing machine to a water faucetoutlet end comprising: a. a body portion defining a liquid passagewaytherein, b. said passageway having an inlet end, an outlet end fortransmitting liquid toward the washing machine, and a liquid takeoffoutlet at a point between said inlet and said outlet end, c. manuallyreleasable means for connecting said inlet end in liquid-receivingrelationship to the faucet outlet end whereby the assembly projectsdownwardly therefrom, d. normally closed valve means for opening andclosing said takeoff outlet, e. a handle portion protruding from saidbody portion to facilitate manipulation and connection of the assemblyto the faucet, f. manually operable means being disposed generallybetween said body portion and said handle portion and adapted to bemovable between a first and a second position relative to said handleportion, g. means urging said manually operable means normally away fromsaid faucet outlet end to said first position, h. said manually operablemeans being adapted to open said valve means when moved toward saidfaucet outlet end to said second position, i. a discharge port on theexterior of said assembly in liquid flow communication with said liquidtakeoff outlet for dispensing the flow of liquid generally downward fromthe assembly, and j. said manually operable means being a slidablemember and having at least one side portion thereof disposed away fromsaid discharge port to thereby facilitate manual operation of saidslidable member.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said manuallyreleasable means includes an operating lever, and said slidable memberhas a portion thereof extending into the path movement of said operatinglever.
 3. A coupling assembly to connect a washing machine to a waterfaucet outlet end, comprising: a. a body portion defining a liquidpassageway therein, b. said passageway having an inlet end, an outletend for transmitting liquid toward said washing machine, and a liquidtakeoff outlet at a point between said inlet end and said outlet end, c.manually releasable means for connecting said inlet end in liquidreceiving relationship to the faucet outlet end whereby the assemblyprojects downwardly therefrom, d. normally closed valve means openingand closing said takeoff outlet, e. a handle portion protruding fromsaid body portion to facilitate manipulation and connection of theassembly to the faucet, f. manually operable means being disposedgenerally between said body portion and said handle portion and adaptedto be movable between a first and a second position relative to saidhandle portion, g. means urging said slidable means normally away fromsaid faucet outlet and to said first position, h. said manually operablemeans being adapted to open said valve means when moved toward saidfaucet outlet end to said second position, i. a discharge port on theexterior of said assembly in liquid flow communication with said liquidtakeoff outlet for dispensing a flow of liquid generally downward fromthe assembly, and j. linkage between said manually releasable means andsaid valve means whereby operation of said manually releasable meansopens the valve means.
 4. The Invention of claim 3 wherein said linkageincludes said manually operable means.